فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Jerusalem: The ousted head of Israel’s internal security service (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar, has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of demanding personal loyalty, in a sworn written statement submitted to the Supreme Court. The Prime Minister’s office has dismissed these allegations as “lies.”
This development marks the latest episode in a heated legal and political battle between Netanyahu and Bar, whose dismissal by the government sparked widespread public outrage and mass protests. The opposition and the State Attorney General contend that Bar’s removal signals an “autocratic drift” in the government.
In his sworn statement, Bar incriminated Netanyahu, claiming that the Prime Minister demanded personal loyalty. The Prime Minister’s office countered with a statement rejecting Bar’s claims as “full of lies,” asserting that Bar “failed miserably” in addressing the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Bar’s statement alleges that in the event of a constitutional crisis, “it was clear” that Netanyahu expected him to obey him, rather than the Supreme Court. He also vehemently denied accusations from Netanyahu and his associates that the Shin Bet failed to provide timely warnings about the October 7th attack. Netanyahu reiterated this accusation, stating that Bar’s “miserable failure” on that day “alone justifies the end of his term.”
Bar noted that all security agencies received an alert around 03:00 on October 7, 2023, regarding “unusual preparations and the possibility of offensive intentions by Hamas.” He added that he arrived at Shin Bet headquarters at 04:30, two hours before the Hamas attack, and instructed that the Prime Minister’s military advisor be informed of the events. “That night, nothing was hidden from the security apparatus or the Prime Minister,” he stated.
Bar’s statement also revealed that Netanyahu had told him “on more than one occasion” that he expected his services to act against Israeli citizens involved in anti-government protests, “with particular emphasis on monitoring protest funders.” He also confirmed media reports that Netanyahu sought his signature to delay the Prime Minister’s testimony in his corruption trial.
He accused Netanyahu of “sidelining” him from hostage release negotiations, arguing that this decision “jeopardized” further ceasefire talks with Hamas.
On April 8th, the Supreme Court upheld its initial decision to suspend Bar’s dismissal, following a review of five petitions. The court ruled that Ronen Bar “will continue to perform his duties until a further decision,” while allowing the government to interview candidates for his succession but prohibiting any “announcement of appointment.”
Bar concluded his 11-page statement by announcing that he “will soon announce the date of my resignation.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid reacted to Bar’s statement on X, stating that it “proves that Netanyahu is dangerous to Israel’s security.”
